Hand-operated air-dash washer



I. B. MILLNER. HAND OPERATED AIR DASH WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-M1920.

1,378,600. Patented May 17 1921.

UNITED STATES ISAAC B. MILLNEB, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

HAND-OPERATED AIR-DASH WASHER.

, Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Diary 17, 1921.

Application filed September 1, 1920. Serial No. 407,478.

. lVashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful- Imp'rovements in Hand-Operated Air-Dash Washers, of which the following isa description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the figures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to devices for washing fabrics, and more particularly to a handheld device for washing smaller fabrics, such as handkerchiefs and undergarments of finer quality.

An'object of this invention isto provide a hand-held device which can be readily used for quickly and efficiently washing fine linen or small pieces of wearing apparel in a basin or stationary washstand or small receptacle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a hand-held device including a striking element adapted to be projected against the fabric to loosen the dirt, the device being constructed and arranged to simultaneously cause the air to pass through the mesh of the fabric to carry away the loosened dirt.

Still another obj ect of this invention is to provide a device of the above character including a relatively movable cylinder and piston adapted to be held in the hand, and

including a fabric contacting member, said parts being constructed and arranged so that when the device is projected against the fabric, the contact member will loosen the dirt from the fabric while a blast of air is jetted through the meshes of the fabric to, carry the dirt away.

Yet another aim of this invention resides in forming thefabric contact member as a collapsible cup-shaped element formed with,

. separate relatively movable scrubbing fingers on the rim thereof and provided with adjacent air outlets, the fabric contacting member having an air inlet connection about the hand heldcylinder so that when the cylinder and fabric contacting member are pro vious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

Referring more particularly to the accompanyin drawing The gure illustrates a cross section of one form of the invention. 7

In general, the invention comprises a collapsible cup-shaped member connected by means of a rigid tube to a piston reciprocating within the cylinder, which is adapted to be held in the hand of the user. This cylinder constitutes an air chamber which has suitable valved ports leading to the atmos phere and to the hollow tube connected to the cup-shaped member, the device being so constructed that when thedevice is held in the hand and projected against a fabric partly submerged in soapy water, the cups shaped member will strike the fabric to loosen the dirt therefrom, and an air blast will be forced from the air cylinder by Way of the hollow tube, through the mouth of the. cup-shaped member and thence through the mesh of the fabric to carry away the dirt loosened by the suds and by the force of impact of the cup-shaped member.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, the preferred form of the device comprises a hollow cup-shaped member 1 preferably made of rubber or other resilient material provided on its open edge with a series of scrubbing fingers or corrugations 2 formed for the purpose of more easily loosening the dirt, and provided at its top with an open flange 3 forming a means for its attachment to a rigid tube 4 of any desired material. As shown clearly in the drawing, this flange 8 forms an opening 5 adapted to'be controlled by a one-way valve 6 suitably attached to the shoulder 7 of the cup-shaped member 1.

It is of course obvious that any arrangement of a one-way valve may be substituted. The upper end of the rigid hollow tube f has formed integral therewith a pis-. ton 5 working within theair cylinder 6. This piston may be fixed to the upper end of the tube inany suitable manner such as by holding it between a small flange 8 on the. end of the tube and the crimped portion 9. The air cylinder 6 issuitably closed at its. lower end by means of a cap 10 provided with a central bore 11 through which slidably passes the tube l, there being suitable packing 12 arranged at this point to provide of any desired form. In the present con struction, the end of the cylinder 13 'is formed with a central bore 14 threaded. to

receive a valve cage 15, having a spherical ornamental dome 16, and a base portion 17 provided with a series of air inlets 18. Any manner of one-way valve may be used, but in the present instance it is desired to afix to the bottom of the cage 17 the ordinary type of one-way valve 19. Located between the top of the cylinder and the piston is a coiled spring 20 adapted to normally force the piston to that end of the cylinder opposite the inlet port 18.

In operating this device, the line wearing apparel, linen or other fabric, is immersed in soapy water and the device is thenheld in the hand so that the cup-shaped member will be projected more or less violently against the article to be cleansed, the force of the blow depending upon the fabric and the adh rence of the dirt in the mesh of the fabric. As the cup-shaped member 1 strikes the article the scrubbing fingers 2 will be given relative movement against the face of upper end of the air cylinder will be forced through the hollow tube at out through the flat valve 6 and through the scrubbing fingers and thence through the fabric mesh, carrying away the dirt loosened by the suds and the impact of the blow. The spring 20 need be just strong enough to lift the air cylinder 6 and restore the parts to the position shown in the drawing. During this reverse movement between the piston and the cylinder, air will be drawn in through the ports 18, past the flat valve 19 and into the air cylinder 6, the flat valve 6 in the cupshaped member 1 closing at this time, so that water will not be drawn into the interior of the air cylinder.

It is obvious that by means of this convenient little device, ladies may very quickly and efficiently wash fine linen and undergarments in stationary waslrstands. Due to the impact of the article contacting memher, and the jet of air passed through the mesh of the fabric, the dirt is most effectively loosened and carried away. So also, by providing a collapsible or a rigid cupshaped member, the rubbing and pounding effect of this member is greatly augmented. It is of course within the spirit of this invention to use a rigid member, if desired.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A device forwashing fabrics comprising a member adapted to be projected against the fabric to be washed to loosen the dirt, said member having a plurality of fabric engaging fingers formed with adjacent air outlets, and means operated by the projection of said member against a fabric for causing a flow of air into said member and outwardly through said outlets whereby to force air about said fingers and through the mesh of said fabric to assist in removing the dirt.

2. A hand-held device for washing fabrics comprising a memberadapted to be project ed by, the hand against the fabric to be washed, said member having relatively movable scrubbing portions and air outlets arranged adjacent thereto, and means operated by the projection of said member against a fabric for causing a flow of air into said member and outwardly through i said outlets whereby to pass through the mesh of said fabric.

8. A hand-held device for washing fabrics comprising a collapsible cup-shaped member having relatively movable scrubbing fingers and adj acently located air outlets on the rim thereof, an air cylinder having an air inlet port, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder and rigidly connected to said cupshaped member, and means for. permitting a flow of air through said air cylinder into said cup shaped member and radially through said perforations when said device is projected against the fabric to be cleansed.

1. A device of the character described comprising a cylinder adapted to be held in the hand and provided with a suitable valve controlled air inlet port, a piston reciprocable in said cylinder, a rigid hollow tube connected to said piston and passing through one end of said cylinder, an open-ended collapsible cup-shaped member rigidly connectv ed to the opposite end of said rigid tube and provided with air outlets through the fabric contacting portion thereof, a valve controlled air conduit connecting said hollow chamber and cup-shaped member, and a spring arranged in said air cylinder between said piston and one endthereof.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

ISAAC B. MILLNER. 

